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But the rams need only cease to suppose that all that happens to
them happens solely for the attainment of their sheepish aims； they
need only admit that what happens to them may also have purposes
beyond their ken； and they will at once perceive a unity and coherence
in what happened to the ram that was fattened。 Even if they do not
know for what purpose they are fattened； they will at least know
that all that happened to the ram did not happen accidentally； and
will no longer need the conceptions of chance or genius。
Only by renouncing our claim to discern a purpose immediately
intelligible to us； and admitting the ultimate purpose to be beyond
our ken； may we discern the sequence of experiences in the lives of
historic characters and perceive the cause of the effect they
produce （incommensurable with ordinary human capabilities）； and then
the words chance and genius become superfluous。
We need only confess that we do not know the purpose of the European
convulsions and that we know only the facts… that is； the murders；
first in France； then in Italy； in Africa； in Prussia； in Austria；
in Spain； and in Russia… and that the movements from the west to the
east and from the east to the west form the essence and purpose of
these events； and not only shall we have no need to see exceptional
ability and genius in Napoleon and Alexander； but we shall be unable
to consider them to be anything but like other men； and we shall not
be obliged to have recourse to chance for an explanation of those
small events which made these people what they were； but it will be
clear that all those small events were inevitable。
By discarding a claim to knowledge of the ultimate purpose； we shall
clearly perceive that just as one cannot imagine a blossom or seed for
any single plant better suited to it than those it produces； so it
is impossible to imagine any two people more completely adapted down
to the smallest detail for the purpose they had to fulfill； than
Napoleon and Alexander with all their antecedents。
EP1｜CH3
CHAPTER III
The fundamental and essential significance of the European events of
the beginning of the nineteenth century lies in the movement of the
mass of the European peoples from west to east and afterwards from
east to west。 The commencement of that movement was the movement
from west to east。 For the peoples of the west to be able to make
their warlike movement to Moscow it was necessary： （1） that they
should form themselves into a military group of a size able to
endure a collision with the warlike military group of the east； （2）
that they should abandon all established traditions and customs； and
（3） that during their military movement they should have at their head
a man who could justify to himself and to them the deceptions；
robberies； and murders which would have to be committed during that
movement。
And beginning with the French Revolution the old inadequately
large group was destroyed； as well as the old habits and traditions；
and step by step a group was formed of larger dimensions with new
customs and traditions； and a man was produced who would stand at
the head of the coming movement and bear the responsibility for all
that had to be done。
A man without convictions； without habits； without traditions；
without a name； and not even a Frenchman； emerges… by what seem the
strangest chances… from among all the seething French parties； and
without joining any one of them is borne forward to a prominent
position。
The ignorance of his colleagues； the weakness and insignificance
of his opponents； the frankness of his falsehoods； and the dazzling
and self…confident limitations of this man raise him to the head of
the army。 The brilliant qualities of the soldiers of the army sent
to Italy； his opponents' reluctance to fight； and his own childish
audacity and self…confidence secure him military fame。 Innumerable
so called chances accompany him everywhere。 The disfavor into which he
falls with the rulers of France turns to his advantage。 His attempts
to avoid his predestined path are unsuccessful： he is not received
into the Russian service； and the appointment he seeks in Turkey comes
to nothing。 During the war in Italy he is several times on the verge
of destruction and each time is saved in an unexpected manner。 Owing
to various diplomatic considerations the Russian armies… just those
which might have destroyed his prestige… do not appear upon the
scene till he is no longer there。
On his return from Italy he finds the government in Paris in a
process of dissolution in which all those who are in it are inevitably
wiped out and destroyed。 And by chance an escape from this dangerous
position presents itself in the form of an aimless and senseless
expedition to Africa。 Again so…called chance accompanies him。
Impregnable Malta surrenders without a shot； his most reckless schemes
are crowned with success。 The enemy's fleet； which subsequently did
not let a single boat pass； allows his entire army to elude it。 In
Africa a whole series of outrages are committed against the almost
unarmed inhabitants。 And the men who commit these crimes； especially
their leader； assure themselves that this is admirable； this is glory…
it resembles Caesar and Alexander the Great and is therefore good。
This ideal of glory and grandeur… which consists not merely in
considering nothing wrong that one does but in priding oneself on
every crime one commits； ascribing to it an incomprehensible
supernatural significance… that ideal； destined to guide this man
and his associates； had scope for its development in Africa。
Whatever he does succeeds。 The plague does not touch him。 The
cruelty of murdering prisoners is not imputed to him as a fault。 His
childishly rash； uncalled…for； and ignoble departure from Africa；
leaving his comrades in distress； is set down to his credit； and again
the enemy's fleet twice lets him slip past。 When； intoxicated by the
crimes he has committed so successfully； he reaches Paris； the
dissolution of the republican government； which a year earlier might
have ruined him； has reached its extreme limit； and his presence there
now as a newcomer free from party entanglements can only serve to
exalt him… and though he himself has no plan； he is quite ready for
his new role。
He had no plan； he was afraid of everything； but the parties
snatched at him and demanded his participation。
He alone… with his ideal of glory and grandeur developed in Italy
and Egypt； his insane self…adulation； his boldness in crime and
frankness in lying… he alone could justify what had to be done。
He is needed for the place that awaits him； and so almost apart from
his will and despite his indecision； his lack of a plan； and all his
mistakes； he is drawn into a conspiracy that aims at seizing power and
the conspiracy is crowned with success。
He is pushed into a meeting of the legislature。 In alarm he wishes
to flee； considering himself lost。 He pretends to fall into a swoon
and says senseless things that should have ruined him。 But the once
proud and shrewd rulers of France； feeling that their part is played
out； are even more bewildered than he； and do not say the words they
should have said to destroy him and retain their power。
Chance； millions of chances； give him power； and all men as if by
agreement co…operate to confirm that power。 Chance forms the
characters of the rulers of France； who submit to him； chance forms
the character of Paul I of Russia who recognizes his government；
chance contrives a plot against him which not only fails to harm him
but confirms his power。 Chance puts the Duc d'Enghien in his hands and
unexpectedly causes him to kill him… thereby convincing the mob more
forcibly than in any other way that he had the right； since he had the
might。 Chance contrives that though he directs all his efforts to
prepare an expedition against England （which would inevitably have
ruined him） he never carries out that intention； but unexpectedly
falls upon Mack and the Austrians； who surrender without a battle。
Chance and genius give him the victory at Austerlitz； and by chance
all men； not only the French but all Europe… except England which does
not take part in the events about to happen… despite their former
horror and detestation of his crimes； now recognize his authority； the
title he has given himself； and his ideal of grandeur and glory； which
seems excellent and reasonable to them all。
As if measuring themselves and preparing for the coming movement；
the western forces push toward the east several times in 1805； 1806；
1807； and 1809； gaining strength and growing。 In 1811 the group of
people that had formed in France unites into one group with the
peoples of Central Europe。 The strength of the justification of the
man who stands at the head of the movement grows with the increased
size of the group。 During the te